Dear University Students,
As we come to the home stretch of the Fall 2021, we are faced with significant hurdles: Omicron and PSL cricket matches. We have, therefore, decided to shift all courses online for the rest of the semester, effective Monday, 24 January. That said, we are keeping the campus open! In making decisions like this, we take into account many factors including government directives, the Covid situation in Lahore and the country writ large, and decisions taken by peer institutions, such as Habib University in Karachi and LUMS in Lahore, both of which have reverted to online instruction. Here’s what will be online and what will remain open:
Online
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- – All undergraduate and postgraduate classes, including class labs
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- – Final exams (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Open (as long as participants are well and not quarantining)
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- – Hostels (but residents are allowed to leave if they prefer)
- – Research labs (must still be supervised per usual guidelines)
- – Library and Information Commons
- – Faculty offices (but faculty are allowed to keep office hours from home if they prefer)
- – Administrative offices providing student services from student windows (but Zoom meetings and phone calls are encouraged)
- – Group gatherings less than 50 are allowed but are encouraged to consider postponing until mid-March if possible
Even though the vaccines are not as potent at preventing infection as we would have hoped, they are still effective in helping reduce the likelihood of infected individuals being hospitalized. This is especially true of those who have been boosted, so please get your booster as soon as possible after 6 months have elapsed since being fully vaccinated. As we see a number of members of our community getting ill, here is how we will plan to proceed:
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- – We will proceed with business as usual as much as possible, prayerfully relying on God’s help during these difficult days.
- – Faculty are free to keep office hours virtually and, in this case, will communicate to students when and how they can meet with you.
- – Administrative offices will remain open and lab/support staff are expected to continue working, carefully observing all SOPs.
- – Always wear your mask on campus, including when talking, singing, or taking photographs. Socially distance when eating and put the mask back on as soon as possible after finishing your meal. Wear a KN95 mask (without a vent, which thwarts preventing the spread of Covid) or double mask. Model mask wearing and insist that all students wear a mask over their nose and mouth.
- – Because we anticipate seeing many students out sick, faculty is instructed to make lessons available to students asynchronously. Hopefully many who test positive will still be able to teach and study as they recuperate and quarantine, especially given that many Omicron cases seem to be less severe than earlier variants, at least for those who have been vaccinated. To support the anticipated high number of students who are or will be ill, making class lessons (videos, notes, PowerPoint slides, readings, etc.) available asynchronously on Moodle will help these students complete the semester successfully.
- – If you are exposed to someone (non-family member) with Covid, wear your mask in public and monitor yourself for symptoms. If a member of your household (or house help or roommate) tests positive or has strong Covid symptoms, then quarantine for 7 days and continue attending classes online (see next item).
- – Notify your instructors, your Chair and Registrar if you become ill.
- – Final exams will be online because during that time we face the double threat of Omicron and likely road closures due to the PSL cricket matches. Thus, all undergraduate and postgraduate final exams will be online.
- – The PSL matches (and hopefully Omicron too!) will conclude in time for us to start Spring 2022 on time and in person, starting on Monday, March 7.
I regret these disruptions to the academic operations of the University. Any changes, especially coming so late in the semester, cause stress to you and your instructors. I know that stressors negatively affect teaching and learning, so I find it unfortunate that we are faced with these operational hurdles. However, I am confident in you as a thoughtful, caring, and persevering student body. Please know that you are in my prayers during these most challenging times.
Sincerely,
Dr. Douglas E. Trimble
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs
